Why civility is necessary for society's survival (Full Version)

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pahunkboy -> Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 1:17:05 PM)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-forni_0725edi.State.Edition1.2c974f5.html




vincentML -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 2:50:30 PM)

Society is not civil. That would ruin the economy and drive the dollar down. This is a trick question, right?




Slavehandsome -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 2:59:33 PM)

Its important for power to institute an illusion of high morality, to build trust, which is the finest thing to profit from, as long as you continue to win the War. Whatever War, but pretty much Every War.




pahunkboy -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 3:15:53 PM)

Some good points here.




DesFIP -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 6:09:51 PM)

I don't find that bullying is increasing in schools. The opposite, in fact. Most schools have at least rules against that, which is an improvement over my youth when there was no interest by the administration on making school a safe place to learn.

Same with the workplace, antiharassment rules in corporations understand that if workers are to be productive, they must feel safe. How well the rules are enforced is another matter but the sheer existence of them is encouraging.




DarlingSavage -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 6:13:08 PM)

One person read the article and 3 did not.




Aneirin -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 6:42:22 PM)

A notion of live and let live would be better




dcnovice -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 7:14:38 PM)

Someone once complained to Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander of the French forces in WW1, about the "insincere" politeness of the French, noting "There is nothing in it but wind." Foch replied, "There is nothing but wind in a tire, but it makes riding in a car very smooth and pleasant."




TreasureKY -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 7:22:33 PM)

lol...
The framers of the U.S. Constitution assumed that their fellow citizens' pursuit of personal interest would be bound by self-regulation based on religious belief and ethical principles. John Adams saw with particular clarity that without allegiance to those principles, no government could survive.

"We have no government capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion," he wrote in 1798. "Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Try explaining that to some of the posters around here who love to denigrate and belittle anyone who advocates morality or defends those with religious belief.




BonesFromAsh -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/25/2010 8:04:52 PM)

Good article, thanks for sharing.

A couple of things that stood out for me...

quote:


Studies have shown that protracted exposure to stress caused by living in an uncivil environment increases the chances of contracting cardiovascular disease, for example. And the American Psychological Association has estimated that workplace stress (considering absenteeism, loss of productivity, medical expenses and turnover) costs U.S. businesses about $300 billion a year.


quote:


We are the world's trustees – not just of the air we breathe and the water we drink, but of one another's quality of life, contentment and happiness.
Civility is the shape that care takes.


The first quote struck home for me, personally, after a weekend spent in a stressful work environment which I have taken to calling "Peyton Place".  Sadly, the problems of lack of civility within this situation are fostered by the higher-ups who have failed to see the importance of working as a team instead of every man/woman for themselves. 

Unfortunately, the attitude of the almighty ME versus a community based on the idea of interdependence seems to be the norm.  Just because I'm having a horrible day doesn't mean I have the right to take that out on the people I come in contact with daily. 

The world does not revolve around one individual.

Some of the most uplifting conversations for me have started because of a genuine "hello, how are you?" and a smile given to the person behind the counter when I pick up a morning cup of coffee. 

Here's a couple of links that might be of interest...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1248919
*Be sure to listen to the interview linked to the article.


http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.html




Termyn8or -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 2:36:35 AM)

FR

Another video or something I can't get.

Civility is important for two reasons. For one I have a gun, but get this. There are a couple of people I would be afraid to pull it on, that they are so fast I would most likely end up eating it. And they would get away with it of course.

But that's just me.

Actually I can insult you politely to where you don't even realize it for a day or two. Then as you lay in bed you say to yourself "That motherfucker said ......". And if you really want your ass kicked, remember most likely it will be true.

Always be nice, until it is time not to be nice.

T




vincentML -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 4:51:53 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarlingSavage

One person read the article and 3 did not.


And properly so when the OP offers no opinion and asks no question but merely lazily posts a link without even a comment or brief abstract. We have discussed this problem before. Many of us will not read links unless given a reason to do so. We can get our news from other sources if we wish. Not meant to be a criticism of you DS, just an explanation.




vincentML -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 5:09:11 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: TreasureKY

lol...
The framers of the U.S. Constitution assumed that their fellow citizens' pursuit of personal interest would be bound by self-regulation based on religious belief and ethical principles. John Adams saw with particular clarity that without allegiance to those principles, no government could survive.

"We have no government capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion," he wrote in 1798. "Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Try explaining that to some of the posters around here who love to denigrate and belittle anyone who advocates morality or defends those with religious belief.


This is the same John Adams who when President pursued sedition laws against political enemies. It was not unusual for would-be kings to invoke religion as their justification for the application of power and the denial of sufferage to the unlanded man and woman. Explicit in Adams' words is a dour and denigrating opinion of human nature and all of this in defending a Constitution that institutionalized the ownership of slaves and religious leaders, especially in the South, who supported the "peculiar institution." Clearly, Adams' words were self-serving for the Federalist Party he promoted and the land owners who supported the Party. The gentry lived in fear of a true democratic revolution. The fear is palpable in his words. He was horrified by the French Revolution run amuck and had no confidence that his own people would not take him to the guillotine. (sp?)




Termyn8or -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 9:15:54 AM)

After 49 years vince I found out why :

Human nature.

T




pahunkboy -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 9:29:50 AM)

Here is a good example:

A mod not long ago warned the list to stick with the topic.  To avoid high jacks.

Yesterday was absolutely intense in politics.

In short- a few disregarded what the mod had told us was policy.

In the end- one thread was pulled.  Maybe more then one.

The mod had made a reasonable request.

yet-  somehow that thread became un-savable.




hlen5 -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 9:48:05 AM)

Pa, Thanks for posting the article!

As I was reading the link, The movie, "Blast from the Past" entered my head. The main character (Brendan Fraser!!!)got along swimmingly with everyone he met. He behaved civilly and with impeccable manners even thought he spent 35 years in a fallout shelter (ridiculous premise, but I love that movie!!).

There's a quote I can't remember verbatim that says "Manners are the lubricant that move the gears of society". If EVERYONE followed the golden Rule and behaved civilly, the world would be a much better place.




pahunkboy -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 9:51:00 AM)

I thought it was interesting how they said- you cant really make a law or put a price on it.

So true.

:-)




LadyPact -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 11:02:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Here is a good example:

A mod not long ago warned the list to stick with the topic.  To avoid high jacks.

Yesterday was absolutely intense in politics.

In short- a few disregarded what the mod had told us was policy.

In the end- one thread was pulled.  Maybe more then one.

The mod had made a reasonable request.

yet-  somehow that thread became un-savable.



I'm just a poster like everyone else, but it is My opinion that unless the thread original is the part that is uncivil or offensive, the entire discussion shouldn't be wiped out.  I have a much higher preference for the Mods temporarily locking a thread, removing offensive posts, and then reopening it when people have gotten the idea that the personal attacks will not be permitted.  A good number of forum regulars are willing to reword a response on a thread if a comment has been pulled if they have been out of line.  This allows them the opportunity to state their position after being corrected.  I believe it is Mod 21 or Mod 16 (or both) who have done this in the past and I think it works very well.




realwhiteknight -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 11:27:02 AM)

Interesting article..I started skimming it and I'm going to leave it up and read it later when I have more time. [:)]




pahunkboy -> RE: Why civility is necessary for society's survival (7/26/2010 11:35:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyPact

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Here is a good example:

A mod not long ago warned the list to stick with the topic.  To avoid high jacks.

Yesterday was absolutely intense in politics.

In short- a few disregarded what the mod had told us was policy.

In the end- one thread was pulled.  Maybe more then one.

The mod had made a reasonable request.

yet-  somehow that thread became un-savable.



I'm just a poster like everyone else, but it is My opinion that unless the thread original is the part that is uncivil or offensive, the entire discussion shouldn't be wiped out.  I have a much higher preference for the Mods temporarily locking a thread, removing offensive posts, and then reopening it when people have gotten the idea that the personal attacks will not be permitted.  A good number of forum regulars are willing to reword a response on a thread if a comment has been pulled if they have been out of line.  This allows them the opportunity to state their position after being corrected.  I believe it is Mod 21 or Mod 16 (or both) who have done this in the past and I think it works very well.



Locking that thread would have been fine.  The thing is there were maybe 5 pages out of 7 that would then in theory be deleted.    So- it is understandable that it just was a bad thread and only fanned bad will.
It became a thread about the poster rather then the topic itself.






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